Cutlery tool

ABSTRACT

A cutlery tool having a rigid body and a centrally disposed handhold therein. A sharpened blade is situated so as to have an exposed cutting surface at the leading or front edge of the tool. In one preferred embodiment a forwardly tapered tongue is integral with the tool adjacent the bottom edge thereof beneath the blade. In another presently preferred embodiment a rearwardly projecting tapered member is integral with the body. If desired, a secondary handle can be formed in vertically stacked relation above the body.

United States Patent 91 Bigler et a1.

[ July 31, 1973 CUTLERY TOOL Inventors: David A. Bigler, 4603 BelmourWay; Boyd R. Bigler, 1791 Oakridge Dr., both of Salt Lake City, Utah 84117; Owen G. Bigler, 1321 Creek Rd., Sandy, Utah 84070 Filed: Sept. 16,1971 Appl. No.: 180,989

US. Cl. 30/294, 7/1 H Int. Cl B261) 29/00 Field of Search 30/286, 287,294, 30/312, 313, 314, 339, 340; 128/305; 17/1 R, 17; 145/61 R, 108 R,108 A, 108 B References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1885 Eisenhardt145/108 B 4/1940 Hart 30/286 3,241,236 3/1966 Capps 30/294 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 99,274 7/1940 Sweden 145/108 R PrimaryExaminer-0thell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Mark S. BicksAttorney-Ross H. Workman [57] ABSTRACT A cutlery tool having a rigidbody and a centrally disposed handhold therein. A sharpened blade issituated so as to have an exposed cutting surface at the loading orfront edge of the tool. In one preferred embodiment a forwardly taperedtongue is integral with the tool adjacent the bottom edge thereofbeneath the blade. in another presently preferred embodiment arearwardly projecting tapered member is integral with the body. Ifdesired, a secondary handle can be formed in vertically stacked relationabove the body.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Pmsmaum 3.748.742

SHEEI 1 0F 2 INVENTORS DAVID A. BIGLER BOYD R. BIGLER OWEN G BIGLER BY IQ d k-u- ATTORNEY FIG. 3

PAIENIEUJUU 1 I975 74 ,7142

SHEEI 2 BF 2 INVENTORS.

DAVID A. BIGLER BOYD R. BIGLER OWEN G. BIGLER ATTORNEY CUTLERY TOOL,

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates tocutlery tools and more particularly to a novel tool for removingentrails from animals and fish.

2. The Prior Art It is well-known that disemboweling or guttingcarcasses of animals in the slaughtering andmeat packing industrypresents special problems. Historically, it has been necessary to exertspecial care to prevent severing of the entrails during thedisemboweling operation so that they might be preserved for future use.In the sporting field, it is particularly important to preserve thecarcass by removing the entrails to facilitate cooling of the carcass.In addition, if the entrails are severed during the removal operation,the quality of the animal meat can be adversely affected. The problem ofremoving entrails without cutting and mutilation normally requires toolsother than a knife and a certain amount of disagreeable hand removal ofentrails is required.

A number of tools have been used to minimize the likelihood that theentrails will be mutilated during disemboweling operations. For example,see U. S. Pat. No. 3,445,931. Nevertheless, until this present inventiona safe, inexpensive and easily used cutlery tool has not been available.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present inventioncomprises a lightweight essentially rigid cutlery tool for disembowelingand gutting animals and fish without mutilating the entrails and/orrequiring substantial hand removal of entrails.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide anovel cutlery tool.

It is another primary object of the present invention to provide a toolaccommodating disemboweling of animals more quickly and easily thanheretofore possible.

One still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved fish-cleaning tool.

These and other objects and features of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the following description and appendedclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspectiveillustration of one presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of a handleconstruction which may be used with the embodiments of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of another presently preferred toolembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of still another presently preferred cuttingtool embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation view along line 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view along line 66 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The Embodiment ofFIGS. 1-2

Reference is now made particularly to FIG. 1 which illustrates a cutlerytool generally designated having a body portion 22. The tool ispreferably formed of a suitable synthetic resinous material and may beeasily formed in an injection mold. Nevertheless, any suitable rigidstructural material, including metal, could be used. A contouredelongated aperture 24 is formed in the body 22 to serve as a handhold.The handhold 24 is essentially centrally located in the body 22 and has,when desired, a plurality of ribs 26 which accommodate improved fingergripping of the body 22. The lower end 28 of the body 22 is continuouswith a forwardly projecting tongue 30. Preferably, tongue 30 is disposedessentially at right angles with respect to the handhold 24. Tongue 30is tapered forwardly and terminates in a sharpened point 32 for thepurpose hereinafter to be more fully described.

The body 22 has a sloping front edge 34 which is situated betweenforwardly protruding members 36 and 38. Forwardly protruding member 38terminates intermediate the length of tongue 30 and protruding member 36terminates intermediate the vertical leading edge 40 of the body 22.

A recess 42 is situated essentially parallel to the angle formed byleading edge 34 so as to extend from the handhold at 44 to anintermediate portion of the tongue 30 at 46. The recess also opens alongthe entire length of leading edge 34 and projecting member 38.

. The projecting member- 36 forms a shoulder 48 which defines the upperlimit of recess 42. The lower limit of recess 42 is defined by thetrailing edge 50 of the tongue 30.

An insert generally designated 52 is contoured so as to correspond tothe shape of recess 42. Insert 52 has a leading edge 54 adapted to besubstantially parallel to the leading edge 34 when the insertion 52 isin the assembled position. Leading edge 54 has a forwardly I projectingmember 56 which, when the insert is assembled upon the body 22, will beparallel to the member 38.

The insert 52 has an essentially flat upper surface 60 and a contiguousangularly related surface 62. In the assembled relation, the surface 62abuts the shoulder 48 and cooperates with the trailing edge 64 of theinsert 52 to minimize the tendency for lateral play or movement of theinsert 52 when assembled into the body 22.

= Insert 52 has spaced bores 64 and 66 which, when the insert 52 isassembled into the body 22, are in alignment with corresponding bores 68in recess 42. Fastening structures such as screws 70 and 72 are used toanchor the insert 52 into the recess 42. Preferably, the insert 52 hasan outwardly projecting rib 76 disposed essentially parallel to theleading edge 54. Rib 76 is adapted to be received by elongated slot 78formed in the recess 42. It is presently preferred that a sharpenedblade 80 be provided with a slot 82 which is essentially the same sizeas slot 78 and which will accommodate the rib 76 in male-femalerelation.

Thus, when the blade 80 is placed upon the rib 76 and when the insert 52is anchored in the recess 42, the cutting edge 84 of the blade 80 willbe exposed a substantial distance beyond the leading edges 34 and 54.The rib 76 onto which the cutting blade 80 is situated will preventlateral and rotational movement of the blade relative to the body 22. Ifdesired, blade 80 may have another sharpened edge 86 so that the blade80 may be simply rotated to expose the edge 86 when a fresh sharpenededge is desired. Moreover, the ease with which disassembly of the toolcan be obtained makes rapid replacement of blade 80 possible.

In the illustrated embodiment, it is presently preferred to provide asecondary handle 90 integral with the body 22 and having a leading edgecommon with the edge 40. The secondary handle 90, in the illustratedembodiment, is substantially solid and formed as a onepiece structurefrom the same resinous material forming body 22. If desired, ribs 92 maybe placed on the handle 90 to improve the grip on the handle. It shouldalso be observed that the secondary handle 90 is offset with regard tothe body 22 so as to expose a shelf 94.

If desired, the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be modified to include asecondary handle generally designated 100. Secondary handle 100 issimilar to the secondary handle 90 except that it has a greatertransverse dimension so that shelf 102 is substantially smaller thanshelf 94. In addition, the handle 100 has a secondary handhold 104formed therein. If desired, handhold 104 may have ribs 106 projectingtherein, ribs 106 being substantially the same as ribs 26 (FIG. 1) andserving the same function. v 1

In'the use of the cutlery tool 20, an animalcarcass may be hung by therear legs, as is conventional, and a small opening made with a knife inthe abdomen of the carcass. Thereafter, the leading point 32 of thetongue is inserted into the opening so that the tongue 30 is locatedflat against the interior surface of the hide and the edge 84 of theblade 80 is situated directly against the hide. Because of thearrangement of handhold 24 and secondary handle 90, the cutlery tool 20can be easily drawn or pushed along the entire length of the abdomen fordisemboweling the animal. The cutting blade is situated at an angle withrespect to the cutting direction so that cutting will occur more easilyand effectively. The tongue 30, during the cutting step remains againstthe interior surface of the hide and is configurated so as to preventpenetration of the membrane containing the entrails. The cutting blade80 is shielded from the entrails by the tongue 36 so that the entrailsare not inadvertently cut with the animal hide.

Thereafter, a small opening can be made with a knife in the membranecontaining the entrails. The membrane can then be opened by insertingthe tongue 30 in the opening and drawing or pushing the blade along thelength of the membrane. This frees the entrails without mutilation.

When the entrails are removed, a cut is made from the abdominal openingto the hock of each rear leg and the knee of each front .leg. The tongue30 prevents inadvertent mutilation of the usable meat.

If preservation of the hide in one piece is not important, the blade 80can be drawn or pushed the length of the back so as to divide the backlongitudinally in thirds.

The Embodiment of FIG. 3

The embodiment of FIG. 3 is similar in many respects to the embodimentof FIGS. 1 and 2, like parts having like numerals throughout. In theFIG. 3 embodiment, the body 22 has a rearwardly projecting hook 110which commences at the lower end 28 of the body 22 and curves upwardlyto the rounded tip 112.

Blade 80 is situated within a recess (not shown) in the body 22 and issecured therein by contoured insert 114. Insert 114 is anchored to thebody 22 such as with screws 116. The insert 114 has a contoured leadingedge 118 which exposes the leading edge 84 of the blade for cuttingpurposes. Also, if desired, the insert 114 may have a lower lip 120which is forwardly tapered to a point 122.

A secondary handle is provided to facilitate utility of the tool forcutting with the blade and for use in controlling the position of thehook 110. The handle 90 may also have the configuration of theembodiment of FIG. 2, if desired. Nevertheless, the inclusion of thesecondary handle 90 is not essential to the invention and is shown forillustrative purposes only.

The FIG. 3 embodiment of the invention has primary use for gutting fish.The sharpened point 122 can be used to penetrate the anus of the fishand, thereafter, the blade 80 can be drawn or pushed along the length ofthe belly of the fish to the gills. Hook is used to cut the gill Stringat the throat of the fish.

The edge 82 of blade 80 is then used to cut away tins adjacent the gilland the point 122 is used to free the fin tissue from the backbone. Whenthe fish has been opened, the hook 110 can be inserted between the gillsand the fish entrails removed. The veing existing along the backbone ofthe fish may be removed in either of two preferred ways depending uponthe size of the fish. First, where the fish is small, the end 112 ofhook 110 is drawn or pushed along the length of the vein to remove it.Where the fish is larger, it may be necessary to open the membrane ofthe vein by forcing the hook 122 into the membrane and cutting same fromthe gill to the anus. Then hook 110 can be used to'strip out the blood.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 4-6

Reference is now made to the embodiment of FIGS. 4-6, like parts havinglike numerals throughout. Referring particularly to FIG. 4, a cutlerytool generally designated has a contoured essentially oval'shaped body152 having a handhold 154 therein. If desired, the handhold 154 may havea plurality of spaced ribs 156 to facilitate gripping of the body 152.The leading edge 158 of the body 152 merges into a recess 160 formed inthe body 152. The recess 160 is obliquely oriented with respect to thehandhold 156 and is provided with retainers 162 and 164 for holding ablade 168. Blade 168 may be of any suitable type, for example, asingleedge razor blade.

The lower end 170 of the body 152 is continuous with a forwardlyprojecting tongue 174. Tongue 174 with the leading edge 158 of body 152forms a generally V-shaped configuration with the cutting blade 168situated near the bifurcation point. As can best be appreciated byreference to FIG. 6, the tongue 174 is laterally enlarged and taperedforwardly to a leading tip 176. The upper surface 178 is rounded whilethe lower surface 180 is essentially flat.

The cutlery tool embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 is used in a way substantiallysimilar to that described for the tool of FIGS. 1 and 2. The use of thetool differs only in that one hand rather than two can be used todisembowel the animal carcass. It should be observed that the blade 168,like the blade 80 of FIG. 1, is situated at an angle with respect to thenormal direction of travel of the cutlery tool. For example, in normaluse the tool 150 will be moved in a direction from left to right asshown in the Figure essentially parallel with the upper surface of thetongue 174. Thus, the blade 168 will engage the hide at an angle so asto make cutting more facile and effective.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodimentsare to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and notrestrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated bythe appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

l. A cutlery tool comprising a body having front and rear and bottomedges and an opening between the front and rear edges to form ahandhold; a rearwardly extending member curving in the plane of the toolbody and extending angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe blade and the tool body; a blade secured to the front edge of thebody and having an exposed sharpened surface in substantial alignmentwith the plane containing the tool body; and a secondary handholdprojecting upwardly therefrom essentially parallel to the sharpenedsurface of the blade.

2. A cutlery tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said secondary handholdis integral with the top surface of the body.

3. A cutlery tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has a lateralprojection comprising a forwardly tapering tongue situated below theblade and extending angularly with respect to both the blade and thelongitudinal axis of the tool body.

4. A cutlery tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said body comprises arecess in the front edge thereof and means for releasably securing theblade in the recess.

5. A cutlery tool as defined in claim 4 wherein said blade is doubleedged to selectively facilitate rotation of the blade to present a newedge.

6. A cutlery tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool body is formedof one-piece molded synthetic resin.

1. A cutlery tool comprising a body having front and rear and bottomedges and an opening between the front and rear edges to form ahandhold; a rearwardly extending member curving in the plane of the toolbody and extending angularly with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe blade and the tool body; a blade secured to the front edge of thebody and having an exposed sharpened surface in substantial alignmentwith the plane containing the tool body; and a secondary handholdprojecting upwardly therefrom essentially parallel to the sharpenedsurface of the blade.
 2. A cutlery tool as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid secondary handhold is integral with the top surface of the body. 3.A cutlery tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has a lateralprojection comprising a forwardly tapering tongue situated below theblade and extending angularly with respect to both the blade and thelongitudinal axis of the tool body.
 4. A cutlery tool as defined inclaim 1 wherein said body comprises a recess in the front edge thereofand means for releasably securing the blade in the recess.
 5. A cutlerytool as defined in claim 4 wherein said blade is double edged toselectively facilitate rotation of the blade to present a new edge.
 6. Acutlery tool as defined in claim 1 wherein said tool body is formed ofone-piece molded synthetic resin.